c 1520 Gregorian Chant - Saint Leocadia - Spain

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Original leaf from a Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment.  (510 x 390mm – 20 ¼ x 15 ½’’) 

The manuscript text and music (four lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand nearly 500 years ago!!!

Spain (probably Toledo), c. 1520.

Rescued from Santiago, Chile where it had been tacked to a wooden panel many years ago – and hung as a devotional object! These tack-holes are still evident along the margins.

The exceptional large illuminated “M” is in deep violet & red and begins the Feast of St. Leocadia (4th century saint – martyred in Toledo where she was tortured under Decianus – one of the most furious persecutors of Christians in Spain).

The illuminated “M” begins Psalm 118:95: “Me expectaverunt…” (The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies).

As is usual with Medieval and Renaissance parchment, the hair side of the leaf is darker than the flesh side, but may take ink somewhat better.  The differences in tone caused scribes to arrange their quires so that the hair side of one sheet faced the hair side of the next, and the flesh side faced the flesh side. 

Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline.

Shipped unmatted.

  • Inventory# IM-6536
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